A 72-year-old patient tells the nurse that after a long life of challenges and accomplishments, he feels at peace about when death may come. The nurse understands that he has resolved which expected developmental crisis?

Explanation

• The expected crisis in the stage of psychosocial development at this age is ego integrity vs. despair (65-death).

• Patients over age 65 often evaluate their accomplishments and will develop integrity if they see themselves as having led successful lives.

• Despair develops if people view themselves as unproductive or if they have not met their life goals. The expected crisis in the stage of psychosocial development at this age is ego integrity vs. despair (65-death).


Erikson's stages of psychosocial development:

• Basic trust vs mistrust (0-18 mos)

• Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (18 mos-3 yrs)

• Initiative vs. guilt (3-6)

• Industry vs. inferiority (6-12)

• Identity vs. role confusion (13-19)

• Intimacy vs. isolation (20-39)

• Generativity vs. stagnation (40-64)

• Ego integrity vs. despair (65-death)

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